Students in 2Nd Or 3Rd Grade

Home , About a Boy (Homeland), Funny animal, Kirkus Reviews, Resplendent, Young Mouse

Green Acres School Reading Suggestions for 2nd or 3rd Graders Updated June 2019

(The books recommended below are part of the Green Acres Library collection. Reading levels and interests vary greatly, so you may want to look also at Reading Suggestions for K/1st Graders and Reading Suggestions for 4th Graders.)

This list includes: • Fiction Picture Books • Chapter Books (includes Series) • Longer Books and Read-Alouds • Poetry • Nonfiction (includes Biography and Memoir) Graphic books are denoted with the symbol.

Fiction Picture Books

Bildner, Phil. The Soccer Fence: A Story of Friendship, Hope and Apartheid in South Africa “Each time Hector watches white boys playing soccer in Johannesburg, South Africa, he dreams of playing on a real pitch one day. After the fall of apartheid, when he sees the 1996 African Cup of Nations team, he knows that his dream can come true.” Historical fiction. (Publisher)

Blackall, Sophie. Hello Lighthouse "This tribute to lighthouses of an earlier era focuses on one lighthouse and its dedicated keeper. … A fascinating, splendidly executed peek into both the mundane and the dramatic aspects of lighthouse life.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Clark-Robinson, Monica; illus. Let the Children March by Frank Morrison. "A vibrantly illustrated account of the Birmingham Children's Crusade through the eyes of a young girl who volunteers to participate.” Historical fiction. (Kirkus Reviews)

Cooper, Floyd. Juneteenth for Mazie “Little Mazie wants the freedom to stay up late, but her father explains what freedom really means in the story of Juneteenth, and how her ancestors celebrated their true freedom.” (Publisher)

Copeland, Misty. Firebird “American Ballet Theater soloist Misty Copeland encourages a young ballet student, with brown skin like her own, by telling her that she, too, had to learn basic steps and how to be graceful when she was starting out, and that someday, with practice and dedication, the little girl will become a firebird, too. Includes author's note about dancers who led her to find her voice.” (Publisher)

Davies, Nicola. The Promise “On a mean street in a mean, broken city, a young girl tries to snatch an old woman's bag. But the frail old woman, holding on with the strength of heroes, says the thief can't have it without giving something in return: the promise.” (Publisher)

Dempsey, Kristy. A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina’s Dream “Dreams do come true for a Harlem girl in the 1950s.” Historical fiction. (Kirkus Reviews)

Díaz, Junot; illus. by Leo Espinosa. Islandborn “A young girl’s homework assignment unravels the history and beauty of her homeland [Dominican Republic].” (Kirkus Reviews)

Engle, Margarita. Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music "Follows a girl in the 1920s as she strives to become a drummer, despite being continually reminded that only boys play the drums, and that there has never been a female drummer in Cuba." Historical fiction. (Publisher)

Escoffier, Michaël. Where's the Baboon? "It's a book! It's a game! It's Super Bookgame! … In a word: outstanding.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Faruqi, Reem; illus. by Lea Lyon. Lailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story “On the first year she is able to participate in Ramadan, Lailah finds herself in a new country, far from her native Abu Dhabi. She is excited to fast, but nervous that her classmates will not understand. With the help of a teacher and a librarian, she learns how she can explain Ramadan to her fellow students and make friends who are respectful of her culture.” (New York Times)

Florence, Melanie; illus. by Gabrielle Grimard. Stolen Words "When Grandpa tells his granddaughter he has lost his Cree words, the 7-year-old asks for an explanation. … Unforgettable.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Haack, Daniel; illus. by Stevie Lewis. Prince & Knight “A prince of marriageable age looks far and wide for a partner who sings the same tune.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Hanson, Mary. How to Save Your Tail “If you are a rat nabbed by cats who really like stories about magic spoons, wolves with snout-warts, big, hairy chimney trolls … and cookies too, then you'll love this tale of tails. .… Clever and cunning, this is a recipe for laugh- out-loud fun, especially as a read-aloud.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Harrison, Vashti. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History "Perfect for exploring together at bedtime or for children to browse independently, a gorgeous invitation for children of all backgrounds, and especially for black girls, to learn about black women who were pioneers.” Collective biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Hopkinson, Deborah. Knit Your Bit: A World War I Story “When his father leaves to fight in World War I, Mikey joins the Central Park Knitting Bee to help knit clothing for soldiers overseas.” Historical fiction. (Publisher)

Johnson, Angela. All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom “In 1865, members of a family start their day as slaves, working in a Texas cotton field, and end it celebrating their freedom on what came to be known as Juneteenth.” Historical fiction. (Publisher)

Jung, Jin-Ho. Look Up! ”What can sidewalk activity mean to someone high above on a balcony? … Conceptually sophisticated; especially inviting for young artists ready to explore new visual angles.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Khan, Rukhsana. King for a Day “Set in Pakistan during Basant, ‘the most exciting day of the year,’ this story focuses on the strength and resourcefulness of a child in a wheelchair as he navigates the skies at the spring kite festival.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Look, Lenore. Brush of the Gods “The life of the classical Chinese painter Wu Daozi is imagined as a magical artistic adventure.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Moore, Sandra; illus. by Kazumi Wilds. The Peace Tree from Hiroshima: The Little Bonsai with a Big Story “Based on actual events, this picture book tells the story of an almost 400-year-old bonsai tree that survived the Hiroshima bombing.” Historical fiction. (School Library Journal) Recommended for 3rd graders.

Morales, Yuyi. Dreamers “Based on her experience of leaving Mexico for the United States, Morales' latest offers an immigrant's tale steeped in hope, dreams, and love. … A resplendent masterpiece.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Myers, Christopher. H.O.R.S.E.: A Game of Basketball and Imagination “Two teens on a city basketball court start a game of matching each other's shots. Miss five tries and you are out!” (Kirkus Reviews)

O’Malley, Kevin. Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude A girl and a boy collaborate on writing a fairy tale for school. They take turns imagining and conjuring up characters, with the girl delivering the ultimate plot twist.

Peacock, Shane; illus. by Sophie Casson. The Artist and Me “A low-key yet powerful picture-book evocation of the final days of an eccentric artist who was both a victim of his own demons and the target of village bullies.” Historical fiction. (Kirkus Reviews)

Phi, Bao; illus. by Thi Bui. A Different Pond “A fishing trip is not just a fishing trip in this poignant, semiautobiographical tale. … Spare and simple, a must-read for our times.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Polacco, Patricia. The Blessing Cup “History, religious persecution, immigration, and the skeins of faith and love that connect a family are all knit together in this powerful, accessible and deeply affecting story.” Historical fiction. (Kirkus Reviews)

Poulin, Andrée; illus. by Félix Girard. That’s Not Hockey! “A clever introduction to the game-changing career of professional hockey goalie Jacques Plante.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Poulin, Andrée; illus. by Isabelle Malenfant; Pablo Finds a Treasure transl. from French by Andrée Poulin. "A young boy must salvage recyclable material from a mountain of trash in order to earn money for his family. … Poverty is difficult to grasp if one is not living it; this story may help nurture empathetic future generations.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Reynolds, Aaron. Back of the Bus "From the back of the bus, an African American child watches the arrest of Rosa Parks." Historical fiction. (Publisher)

Robertson, Robbie. Hiawatha and the Peacemaker "A legend-based tale about the unification of warring tribes into what would become known as the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy.” Folk tale. (Kirkus Reviews)

Robinson, Sharon. Under the Same Sun “Robinson, author of many acclaimed books about her famous father, Jackie Robinson, writes in this true story about her mother, Rachel (known as Bibi to the grandchildren). Here, she celebrates her 85th birthday on safari in Tanzania with her son and daughter-in-law and their seven children.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Sanna, Francesca. The Journey “A timely, powerful picture book about refugees.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Santat, Dan. Are We There Yet? "A boy feels time slowing down so much that it starts going backward--into the time of pirates! Of princesses! Of dinosaurs! The boy was just trying to get to his grandmother's birthday party." (Publisher)

Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. Bully Spare, powerful words and simple, bold visual images lend themselves to conversations about bullying.

Sheth, Kashmira; illus. by Yoshiko Jaeggi. My Dadima Wears a Sari “Rupa's grandmother wears beautiful saris every day, and Rupa wants to know if she ever gets tired of them.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Stinson, Kathy; illus. by Dušan Petričić. The Man with the Violin "A Stradivarius on the subway? This Canadian import tells the story of violinist Joshua Bell's quirky experiment. Imaginatively illustrated and beautifully written, this offbeat ode to the power of music is a winner.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Thompson, Laurie Ann. Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Ofosu Yeboah "Born in Ghana, West Africa, with one deformed leg, he was dismissed by most people--but not by his mother, who taught him to reach for his dreams." (Publisher)

Tonatiuh, Duncan. Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale “A brilliant modern fable—eloquent, hopeful and heart-rending—about a rabbit family whose members cross the border in search of a better life, and each other.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Tonatiuh, Duncan. The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes "A Mexican legend explains the origins of two volcanoes. Equal parts melancholic and transcendent—a genuine triumph." (Kirkus Reviews)

Tracey, Fern. Dare the Wind: The Record-Breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the Flying Cloud “A lively, true story about a 19th-century woman and the 15,000-mile sailing journey she navigated.” Historical fiction. (Kirkus Reviews)

Verde, Susan; illus. by Peter H. Reynolds. I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness "A gentle, helpful tool for cultivating kid mindfulness.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Woodson, Jacqueline; illus. by E. B. Lewis. Each Kindness "When Ms. Albert teaches a lesson on kindness, Chloe realizes that she and her friends have been wrong in making fun of new student Maya's shabby clothes and refusing to play with her." (Publisher)

Wormell, Christopher. Mice, Morals, & Monkey Business: Lively Lessons from Aesop’s Fables “Relegating the actual texts of 21 fables to an appendix, Wormell presents a suite of full-page color woodcuts to illustrate them, captioned with titles and morals alone, and printed on buttery paper that really sets off the strong lines and gorgeous hues.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Yee, Kristina and Frances Poletti; The Girl Who Ran: Bobbi Gibb, The First Woman to illus. by Susanna Chapman. Run the Boston Marathon "Well-told and illustrated, Gibb's story speaks to not only women's fight for equality, but the power of community.” Historical fiction. (Kirkus Reviews)

Zagarenski, Pamela. The Whisper "A ‘magical book’ on loan from her teacher loses its words on the trip home, so a little girl spins her own stories for each enchanting picture.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Chapter Books (includes Series)

Abbott, Tony. The Secrets of Droon series Eric, Julie, and Neal face magic and adventure in a mysterious world of sorcerers, wizards, and magic. Fantasy.

Amato, Mary. The Riot Brothers series The humorous adventures, games, and missions of fifth grader Orville Riot and his third grade brother Wilbur. Comedy.

Arnold, Elana K; illus. by Charles Santoso. A Boy Called Bat series “A third-grader becomes fascinated with an orphaned skunk kit and wages a campaign to convince his veterinarian mom that their family should care for the animal until it can be released to the wild.” Fiction. (Kirkus Reviews)

Atwater, Richard and Florence Atwater. Mr. Popper’s Penguins The adventures of Mr. Popper, a house painter, and his family of penguins. Comedy.

Cameron, Ann. Julian and Huey books Linked short stories about seven-year-old Julian, his younger brother Huey, his best friend Gloria, and their contemporary African American family. Fiction.

Chew, Ruth. The Wednesday Witch, etc. Humorous tales about a girl and her magical adventures. Fantasy.

Cleary, Beverly. The Mouse and the Motorcycle; Runaway Ralph; Ralph S. Mouse A series about the adventures of a young mouse who encounters a boy and his toy motorcycle in a motel room. Fantasy.

Cleary, Beverly. Ramona series Eight humorous novels about Ramona Quimby and her family and friends in Kindergarten through fourth grade. Fiction.

Coven, Wanda. Heidi Heckelbeck series Stories about a second grader and her school friends and family. Fiction.

Creech, Sharon. Saving Winslow "Louie, a remarkably optimistic 10-year-old, takes on the rearing of a fragile, newborn mini donkey whose mother is too sick to care for it. … Another outstanding and unforgettable story that will work well both as a read-aloud for younger listeners and as a rich offering for those recently transitioned to chapter books.” Fiction. (Kirkus Reviews)

Cronin, Doreen. Chicken Squad series Misadventures involving chickens Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie. Mystery.

Danziger, Paula. A Is for Amber series These are the back stories leading up to the Amber Brown books for older readers. Fiction.

Danziger, Paula. Amber Brown series Follow Amber in this realistic fiction series beginning with her parents’ separation and her best friend’s move In third grade and through the summer following fourth grade. Fiction.

DiCamillo, Kate. Mercy Watson series The adventures of a pet pig who loves to eat buttered toast, sleeps in a human bed, and likes to dress up and do other things that ordinary pigs don’t do. Animal fantasy.

Draper, Sharon. Sassy series First-person realistic stories about the life and family of fashion-savvy nine-year-old Sassy. Fiction.

Eager, Edward. Half Magic (Tales of Magic series) “When fatherless Jane, Mark, Katherine and Martha, all ages, whose mother works on a newspaper, find an old coin, things begin to happen. Their wishes send them on adventures to such far strands as King Arthur's Court and the Sahara Desert and not only that, but the coin brings them a new father in the person of compatible Mr. Smith whom the children all learn to love in good time.” Fantasy. (Kirkus Reviews)

English, Karen. The Carver Chronicles series The adventures and misadventures of third grade boys at Carver Elementary School. Fiction.

English, Karen. Nikki & Deja series The ups and downs of third grade best friends. Fiction.

Feiffer, Jules. A Room with a Zoo “Julie, the nine-year-old narrator of this novel for children (whose father happens to be a cartoonist named Jules), has an urgent desire to own a Chihuahua. Instead, she winds up juggling a menagerie of substitutes—cats, hamsters, turtles, and the like—each with its own propensity for calamity.” Fiction. (The New Yorker)

Fienberg, Anna and Barbara Fienberg. Tashi series An adventure series from Australia about a boy who is clever, brave, and bold. Fantasy.

Gannett, Ruth Stiles. My Father's Dragon series The classic trilogy about a young boy who leaves home to rescue a baby dragon that has been captured and enslaved. Fantasy.

Goldberg, Whoopi. Sugar Plum Ballerinas series The adventures and friendships of a multiethnic cast of characters who attend the Nutcracker School of Ballet. Fiction.

Grimes, Nikki. Danitra Brown series Realistic fiction about Danitra and her best friend Zuri. Fiction.

Grimes, Nikki. Dyamonde Daniel series A four-book series about a spunky, smart third grader with a big personality. Fiction.

Hale, Shannon and Dean Hale. Princess in Black series “Perfect Princess Magnolia has a secret—her alter ego is the Princess in Black, a superhero figure who protects the kingdom!” Fantasy. (Kirkus Reviews)

Hanlon, Abby. Dory Fantasmagory series "Dory, the youngest in her family, is a girl with a very active imagination, and she spends the summer playing with her imaginary friend, pretending to be a dog, battling monsters, and generally driving her family nuts." Fiction. (Publisher)

Harper, Charise. Just Grace series The humorous experiences and friendships of a spunky third grader. Fiction.

Hatke, Ben. Little Robot “Possibilities abound for a small, brown-skinned girl with time, a tool belt, and a penchant for urban adventure… Girl power at its best. A sure winner!” Graphic novel. (Kirkus Reviews)

Holm, Jennifer L., Matthew Holm, Comics Squad series and Jarrett J. Krosoczka, eds. Graphic comics anthologies.

Holm, Jennifer L. and Matthew Holm. Babymouse series Stories about the adventures of a little mouse with a big imagination. Graphic fiction.

Howe, James. Bunnicula series A humorous mystery series about a vampire bunny that is told from the viewpoint of Harold the dog. Mystery.

Jamieson, Victoria. Pets on the Loose! series There’s mystery, adventure, and comedy in this series about class pets on the loose at Daisy P. Flugelhorn Elementary School. Graphic fiction.

Kelly, Katy. Lucy Rose series Realistic stories about spunky, confident Lucy Rose in third grade and then fourth grade. Fiction.

King-Smith, Dick. Harry's Mad “Harry's legacy from his great-uncle, a talking parrot, proves to be a much more exciting gift than he ever imagined.” Animal fantasy. (Publisher)

King-Smith, Dick. Mr. Potter’s Pet Mr. Potter’s assertive mynah bird begins to take charge and even arranges a match for him. Animal fantasy.

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid series The journals of Middle School student Greg Heffley. Graphic/Fiction hybrid.

Le Guin, Ursula K. Catwings series Four young cats with wings leave the city slums in search of a safe place to live and finally meet two children with kind hands. Fiction.

Lin, Grace. Ling and Ting series Humorous chapter books about identical Chinese-American twin girls Ling and Ting, who have unique personalities and tastes. Fiction.

Look, Lenore. Ruby Lu series Humorous stories about a Chinese American girl’s ups and downs in second grade and third grade. Fiction.

Lowry, Lois. Gooney Bird series The classroom adventures of feisty second grader Gooney Bird Greene. Fiction.

Mass, Wendy and Michael Brawer. Space Taxi series The intergalactic space adventures of eight-year-old Archie Morningstar. Adventure/Science fiction.

McDonald, Megan. Judy Moody series The humorous adventures of third grader Judy Moody. Fiction.

McDonald, Megan. Stink series A spin-off series about the antics of Judy Moody’s younger brother. Fiction.

McKay, Hilary. Lulu series The adventures of seven-year-old Lulu, her cousin and best friend, Mellie, and her expanding collection of pets. Fiction.

McMullan, Kate. Get to Work, Hercules! (Myth-o-Mania series) In this updated version of Greek mythology, Hades, King of the Underworld, tells the true story of Hercules and his twelve labors. Mythology.

Mills, Claudia. Izzy Barr, Running Star (Franklin School Friends series) "Third grade sports whiz Izzy Barr excels at both softball and running and wonders why her father doesn't seem to appreciate her athletic talent as much as her brother's.” Fiction. (School Library Journal)

Norton, Mary. The Borrowers series All is well with a family of tiny people living underneath the kitchen floor of an old English country manor, with furnishings “borrowed” from the “human beans” living above them, until a human boy spots them. Fantasy.

Osborne, Mary Pope. The Magic Tree House series Travel through space and time with Jack and his little sister Annie. Fantasy.

Paratore, Coleen Murtagh. ` Sunny Holiday series “A series about a poor girl with a rich outlook on life.” Fiction. (Publisher)

Peirce, Lincoln. Big Nate series Follows the adventures and misadventures of an 11-year-old self-described Middle School genius. Graphic/Fiction hybrid.

Pennypacker, Sara. Clementine series A precocious third grader with the best intentions continues to get into mischief. Fiction.

Quinn, Jordan. The Kingdom of Wrenly series Adventure-seeking eight-year-old Prince Lucas and savvy Clara, daughter of the queen's seamstress and the only friend he is allowed, join forces in quests that take them to all parts of the fantastical Kingdom of Wrenly. Fantasy.

Rissi, Anica Mrose. Anna, Banana series Realistic stories about third grade friendships. Fiction.

Rosado, Rafael and Jorge Aguirre. Chronicles of Claudette series A humorous series about a spunky young girl and her two sidekicks who set out to right wrongs and fight foes. Fantasy.

Roy, Ron. A to Z Mysteries series Three savvy nine-year-old detectives join forces to solve cases. Mystery.

Scieszka, Jon. Frank Einstein series Informative and silly science adventures! Science fiction/Comedy.

Scieszka, Jon. The Time Warp Trio series “A book from his magician uncle transports Joe and his friends, Fred and Sam, back in time to swashbuckling adventures fraught with dangers at every turn.” Fiction. (School Library Journal)

Smith, Jeff. Bone series Three Bone cousins have comic, dramatic, and fantastical adventures. Graphic Comedy/Adventure/Fantasy.

Sternberg, Julie. Like Bug Juice on a Burger “Nine-year-old Eleanor discovers that it's possible to like some things about sleep-away camp.” Fiction. (Kirkus Reviews)

Sternberg, Julie. Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie “When Bibi, her first and favorite babysitter, moves away, it takes all of August for 8-year-old Eleanor to get beyond her sense of loss and get used to a new caretaker.” Fiction. (Kirkus Reviews)

Stout, Shawn. Penelope Crumb series A series for fans of the Ramona, Judy Moody, and Clementine series. Fiction.

Urban, Linda. Weekends with Max and his Dad “During a series of visits with his dad in his new apartment, Max begins adjusting to his parents' recent separation.” Fiction. (Kirkus Reviews)

Vernon, Ursula. Hamster Princess series "Harriet Hamsterbone is not your typical princess–she loves cliff-diving, fighting Ogrecats, and fractions!” Fantasy. Graphic/Fiction hybrid. (Publisher)

Viorst, Judith. Lulu series The escapades of young Lulu, who is used to getting her way! Fiction.

Voake, Steve. Daisy Dawson series “Daisy Dawson is an ordinary girl with an extraordinary gift: she can talk to and understand animals!” Fantasy. (Publisher)

White, E. B. Charlotte’s Web When he discovers that he will be the farmer's Christmas dinner, Wilbur the pig is desolate until his spider friend, Charlotte, decides to help him. Animal fantasy.

White, E. B. Stuart Little The debonair mouse Stuart Little, born to a family of humans in New York City, loves exciting experiences. His greatest adventure involves the search for his best friend, a beautiful bird named Margalo. Animal fantasy.

Longer Books and Read-Alouds

Bearn, Emily. Tumtum & Nutmeg: Adventures Beyond Nutmouse Hall “Charmingly old-fashioned but full of vigor, three tales about spry mouse couple Mr. and Mrs. Nutmouse offer humor and adventure.” Fantasy. (Kirkus Reviews)

Clary, Julian; illus. by David Roberts. The Bolds “Meet the Bolds: Fred, Amelia, and their children, Bobby and Betty; as nice a suburban family of hyenas posing as humans as one could ask for, they should rehabilitate the scavenger's tattered, post-Lion King reputation among the younger set…Wildly original and very funny.” Animal fantasy. (Kirkus Reviews)

DiCamillo, Kate. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread “The adventures of Despereaux Tilling -- a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin.” Fiction. (Publisher)

Henkes, Kevin. The Year of Billy Miller “Billy Miller's second grade year is quietly spectacular in a wonderfully ordinary way.” Fiction. (Kirkus Reviews)

Jenkins, Emily. Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray, A Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic (Toys Go Out series) The feelings, fears, and adventures of three toy best friends. Fantasy.

Martin, Ann M. and Laura Godwin. The Doll People series Follows the adventures of best friends Annabelle Doll, who has been eight years old for more than 100 years, and modern, plastic Tiffany Funcraft. Fantasy.

Perkins, Lynne Rae. Nuts to You “The gray squirrel Jed's human acquaintance relates this entertaining story of friendship and adventure, beginning with Jed's narrow escape from a hawk and then continuing with a series of tail-raising escapades.” Fantasy. (Kirkus Reviews)

Snicket, Lemony. A Series of Unfortunate Events (series) Three orphans survive darkly humorous misadventures as they go from home to home and book to book directed by their well-meaning but bumbling guardian. Fiction.

Poetry

Alexander, Kwame, Mary Rand Hess Animal Ark: Celebrating Our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures and Deanna Nikaido; photographed by Joel Sartore. “The Newbery medalist matches bursts of poetic commentary to dozens of dramatic close-ups, mostly of creatures classified as endangered or threatened.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Alexander, Kwame, Chris Colderley, and Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets Marjory Wentworth; illus. by Ekua Holmes. "A magnificent exploration of the poetic imagination.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Brown, Skila. Slickety Quick: Poems about Sharks “Fourteen sharks, each with a dedicated poem, lurk within these turquoise-watered pages.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Davies, Nicole; illus. by Petr Horáček. Song of the Wild: A First Book of Animals "A treasure for readers of any age who delight in the natural world.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Frost, Helen; photographed by Rick Lieder. Wake Up! “Nature's littlest creatures figure large in this poetic portrait of their early movements.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Giovanni, Nikki, ed. Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat “The variety of poetic forms and performance styles (sometimes elucidated on the CD, as well is in Giovanni's introduction) makes this collection an excellent source of material not found together elsewhere.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Hale, Christy. Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building "Hale turns her educated eye to modern and contemporary architecture and produces a book that is at once groundbreaking, child-friendly and marvelously inclusive.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Hughes, Langston; illus. by Daniel Miyares. That Is My Dream! A Picture Book of Langston Hughes's "Dream Variation" "A must-read illustrated poem that breathes new life into Hughes' 'Dream Variation.'” (Kirkus Reviews)

McCanna, Tim; illus. by Richard Smythe. Watersong A red fox seeks shelter as a rainstorm builds in intensity. … Beautiful.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Mora, Pat. Water Rolls, Water Rises /El agua rueda, el agua sube Bilingual poems about the movement and moods of water around the world and the ways in which water affects different landscapes and cultures.

Noda, Takayo. Dear World “Using brilliant, subtly modulated colors and expressively shaped pieces of handmade paper, Noda creates a world of deceptive simplicity in neat collages of stylized houses, orchards, and gardens, of seasonal changes, of glowing arrays of stars, birds, fish, and flowers.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Orgill, Roxane; illus. by Francis Vallejo. Jazz Day: The Making of a Famous Photograph “In 21 poems, Orgill introduces Art Kane's iconic 1958 Harlem photograph to young readers, spotlighting many of the 57 jazz musicians pictured.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Pinkney, Andrea Davis; illus. by Brian Pinkney. Martin Rising: Requiem for a King "The multiaward-winning Pinkneys' requiem lovingly explains in a set of ‘docu-poems’ the events surrounding Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, particularly the Memphis sanitation workers' strikes that brought him to the city where he eventually died.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Rex, Adam. Nothing Rhymes with Orange "As page after page uses rhymes and puns to celebrate fruits, an orange, who is sadly aware of its nonrhyming name, provides commentary that encompasses a wide range of emotions—ending with a feeling of acceptance from the greater fruit community.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Silverstein, Shel. Falling Up "Readers chortling their way through this inspired assemblage of cautionary tales, verbal hijinks, and thoughtful observations, deftly inserted, will find the temptation to read parts of it aloud irresistible.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Singer, Marilyn. Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About the Greek Myths Poetic portraits of well-known figures from Greek mythology.

Singer, Marilyn. Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems Witty double takes on fairy tale favorites.

Singer, Marilyn. Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse A collection of short poems which, when reversed, provide new perspectives on the fairy tale characters they feature.

Smith, Charles Jr. 28 Days: Moments in Black History That Changed the World. “Three pivotal Supreme Court cases, one amendment, and 25 great men and women make for memorable entries.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Smith, Hope Anita. My Daddy Rules the World: Poems About Fathers "A masterful salute to fatherhood.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Nonfiction (includes Biography and Memoir)

Asim, Jabari. Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T. Washington “A former slave fulfills his quest for an education and much more in this superbly designed tribute to an oft- maligned African-American educator and author.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Barlow, Melissa. Noodlemania! 50 Playful Pasta Recipes "Totem Pole Tortellini, Ladybug Salad, and a Purple Pasta Monster are just a few of the edible creations kids can help prepare that will tantalize the taste buds of young foodies.” Cookbook. (School Library Journal)

Bell, Cece. El Deafo The author recounts in graphic novel format her experiences with hearing loss at a young age, including using a bulky hearing aid, learning how to lip read, and determining her "superpower." Graphic memoir.

Berne, Jennifer. On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein “A boy who asked too many questions becomes iconic physicist Albert Einstein, whose questions changed the world.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Bishop, Nic. Nic Bishop series Close-up looks at butterflies and moths, chameleons, lizards, marsupials, the red-eyed tree frog, snakes, and spiders provided by an award-winning nature photographer.

Brown, Don. Aaron and Alexander: The Most Famous Duel in American History "The peculiar enmity between founding fathers Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton culminated in an infamous duel.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Brown, Don. Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein “Kids won’t need to understand relativity to appreciate Einstein’s passage from lonely oddball to breathtaking genius.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Brown, Don. Teedie: The Story of Young Teddy Roosevelt A biography of the youngest U.S. president’s childhood and accomplishments. Biography.

Bruchac, Joseph; illus. by Liz Amini-Holmes. Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker's Story “A nuanced, compassionate biography of a Navajo Code Talker.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Bryant, Jennifer. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus “The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus is a fabulous illustrated junior biography, celebrating the richness and power of words, and the wonderful story of the man who organized and listed words to make them accessible to all who are literate.” Biography. (Midwest Book Review)

Chin, Jason. Gravity “After stunning explorations of the Galápagos Islands and California's redwoods, Chin turns literally high-concept for a study of gravity's pull.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Cline-Ransome, Lesa; illus. Before She Was Harriet by James E. Ransome. “A memorable, lyrical reverse-chronological walk through the life of an American icon.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Cline-Ransome, Lesa. My Story, My Dance: Robert Battle’s Journey to Alvin Ailey “Only the third person to direct the esteemed and much-loved American dance company, Battle represents a strong line that celebrates African-American music, faith, and dance.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Cornille, Didier; transl. from French by Bridges: An Introduction to Ten Great Bridges and Their Designers Yolanda Stern Broad. (Who Built That? Series) “Ten bridges that both changed how we get from here to there and stunned us with their design beauty and engineering cleverness.“ (Kirkus Reviews)

Coy, John. Game Changer: John McLendon and the Secret Game “A picture-book account of a historic, secret basketball matchup in the Jim Crow South.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Cusolito, Michelle; illus. by Nicole Wong. Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible Alvin “Readers join an Alvin pilot and scientists in an exciting journey as they voyage down deep to the ocean floor to collect samples and conduct research.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Das, Prodeepta. A Day I Remember: An Indian Wedding "Resplendent in his turban and embroidered coat, Swayam, a young Indian boy, acts as the markundi (special attendant) for his uncle's wedding.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Deedy, Carmen Agra and 14 Cows for America Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah. “Kimeli Naiyomah returned home to his Maasai village from New York City with news of 9/11 terrorist attacks. His story prompted the villagers to give a heartfelt gift to help America heal.” (School Library Journal)

Emberley, Ed. Ed Emberley’s Complete Funprint Drawing Book One of many recommended drawing books by this author.

Erskine, Kathryn; illus. by Charly Palmer. Mama Africa! How Miriam Makeba Spread Hope with Her Song "An excellent perspective from which American readers can learn about apartheid and one of the pioneers who fought it through her art.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Eszterhas, Suzi. Koala Hospital "This book, abundant with color photographs, takes readers into the world's only hospital solely for koalas." Nonfiction. (Kirkus Reviews)

Ferris, Jeri Chase. Noah Webster & His Words “A charming introduction to Noah Webster, creator of ‘the second most popular book ever printed in English, after the Bible.’" Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Finley, Julia Mosca; illus. by Daniel Rieley. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin “A picture-book biography in verse introduces Dr. Temple Grandin, a major spokesperson for autism spectrum disorder.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Guillain, Charlotte; illus. by Yuval Zommer The Street Beneath My Feet “This British import is an imaginatively constructed sequence of images that show a white boy examining a city pavement, clearly in London, and the sights he would see if he were able to travel down to the Earth's core and then back again to the surface.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Harshman, Marc and Anna Egan Smucker; Fallingwater illus. by LeUyen Pham. "Late in his career, architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed one of the world's most famous houses.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Hartland, Jessie. How the Meteorite Got to the Museum “Hartland follows up earlier titles about museum acquisitions of an ancient Egyptian sphinx and remains of a dinosaur with a lively new one based on the travels of the Peekskill meteorite to the American Museum of Natural History.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Heiligman, Deborah. The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos “An exuberant and admiring portrait introduces the odd, marvelously nerdy, way cool Hungarian-born itinerant mathematical genius.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Henson, Heather; illus. by Bryan Collier. Lift Your Light a Little Higher: The Story of Stephen Bishop: Slave-Explorer "Stephen Bishop, born circa 1821, had intimate knowledge of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, where he served as guide for visitors who traveled far to tour the underground passageways. Despite the ban against teaching slaves to read, Stephen acquired literacy and wrote his name on the ceiling of Mammoth Cave by using smoke from a lighted candle.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Hill, Laban Carrick. When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop This book tells the story of Clive Campbell/DJ Kool Herc, from his childhood in Jamaica to his youth in the Bronx and how Kool Herc came to be a DJ, how kids in gangs stopped fighting in order to breakdance, and how the music he invented went on to define a culture and transform the world. Biography.

Jenkins, Steve. Egg: Nature's Perfect Package "Explore how a simple, often colorful, sometimes surprisingly shaped package, reveals nature's life cycle, unusual animal defensive strategies, parenting behavior, evolution, and more." (Publisher)

Jenkins, Steve. Eye to Eye: How Animals See the World “The evolution of the eye and the surprising ways animals see the world are displayed in a thoughtfully designed and engagingly illustrated album.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Jenkins, Steve and Robin Page. How to Swallow a Pig: Step-by-Step Advice from the Animal Kingdom “With tongues firmly in cheeks, a pair of animal admirers offers step-by-step instructions for engaging in some surprising animal behaviors.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Kalman, Maira. Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Everything “Impressive complexity put artfully and respectfully within the grasps of young readers.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Kelsey, Elin; illus. by Soyeon Kim. Wild Ideas "Finding solutions to sticky problems can be a mind-expanding adventure. Profound and entirely wonderful.” (Kirkus Reviews) Kerley, Barbara. What to Do about Alice? How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! “Theodore Roosevelt's irrepressible oldest child receives an appropriately vivacious appreciation in this superb picture book.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Kraft, Betsy Harvey. The Fantastic Ferris Wheel: The Story of Inventor George Ferris “Heeding the call to ‘make big plans’ for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, George Ferris designed—and built—the giant observation wheel that now bears his name.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Lawlor, Laurie. Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World “Retells the story of Rachel Carson, a pioneering environmentalist who wrote and published ‘Silent Spring,’ the revolutionary book pointing out the dangerous effects of chemicals on the living world.” Biography. (Publisher)

MacLachlan, Patricia. The Iridescence of Birds: A Book About Henri Matisse “If indeed the ‘child is father to the man,’ Newbery medalist MacLachlan's poetic, careful and concentrated text captures the essence of Matisse's childhood experiences and draws powerful parallels with his later life and work.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Martin, Jacqueline Briggs and June Jo Lee; Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix illus. by Man One. "The third installment in the Food Heroes series presents Roy Choi and the Los Angeles street-food scene. … A vibrant, life-affirming tribute to a chef and his city.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

National Geographic Kids. Just Joking series and Weird But True series

Nelson, Kadir. Nelson Mandela “An inspirational ode to the life of the great South African leader by an award-winning author and illustrator.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux. Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshal As a U.S. Marshal -- and former slave who escaped to freedom in the Indian Territories in the late 1800’s-- Bass was the most feared and respected lawman in the territories for three decades. Biography.

Neri, G. Hello, I'm Johnny Cash "An exceptional portrait of one of the most recognizable musicians of all time.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Nivola, Claire A. Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle “Young explorers will be happy to dive into this captivatingly illustrated biography of the renowned oceanographer.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Nivola, Claire. Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai “Laced with gracefully told anecdotes, this picture-book biography examines the work of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize- winner Maathai, who returned from college abroad to find her country ecologically imperiled.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Nobleman, Marc Tyler. Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman “Drawing incidents and dialogue directly from a range of published interviews and other accounts, Nobleman shows how Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster parlayed a steady diet of Tarzan, Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon into a new kind of Hero, with superhuman abilities and a secret identity not so different from, well, themselves.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Novesky, Am; illus. by Isabelle Arsenault. Cloth Lullaby: The Woven Life of Louise Bourgeois "Splendid visual and verbal introduction to little-known artist Louise Bourgeois.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Pinkney, Andrea Davis; illus. Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Song by Brian Pinkney. “A well-illustrated and meticulously researched story of the inextricably intertwined lives of two important African- American historical figures.” (Kirkus Reviews) 15

Pinkney, Andrea Davis; illus. by Brian Pinkney. Sojourner Truth’s Step-Stomp Stride “The Pinkneys (Boycott Blues, 2008, etc.) collaborate on an upbeat yet nuanced picture biography of Sojourner Truth, whose slave name was Isabella.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Pizzoli, Greg. Tricky Vic: The Impossibly True Story of the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower "An appealingly colorful, deadpan account of a remarkably audacious and creative criminal.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Pringle, Laurence. Strange and Wonderful series Easy to read, comprehensive introductions to owls, dinosaurs, crows, bats, frogs, octopuses, scorpions, penguins, snakes, whales, etc.

Rosenstock, Barb. The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art “This impressive biography of Vasily Kandinsky highlights the unusual connection between his art and the music that inspired it.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Rosenthal, Betsy R. An Ambush of Tigers: A Wild Gathering of Collective Nouns “Collective nouns have never been this much fun…or memorable.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Roth, Susan and Karen Leggett Abouraya. Hands Around the Library: Protecting Egypt’s Treasured Books Vibrant collages illustrate this true 2011 event, during the Arab Spring, in which thousands of demonstrators and library staff joined hands to protect the Bibliotheca Alexandrina -- Alexandria, Egypt’s greatest library – from vandalism.

Ryan, Pam Muñoz. When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson “Tracing the African-American diva from her beginnings as an eight-year-old church choir wonder … through years of struggle to rise above the racism that would delay her debut with the Metropolitan Opera until she was 57, this book masterfully distills the events in the life of an extraordinary musician.” Biography. (Publishers Weekly)

Sayre, April Pulley. Raindrops Roll "Sheds new light on the wonders of rain, from the beauty of a raindrop balanced on a leaf to the amazing, never- ending water cycle that keeps our planet in perfect ecological balance." (Publisher)

Siegel, Siena Cherson. To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel A graphic memoir about how the author became a ballerina, from her early dreams in Puerto Rico to dance class in Boston to her debut performance on stage with the New York City Ballet. Memoir.

Steptoe, Javaka. Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat "Steptoe chronicles the formative years and evolving style of Jean-Michel Basquiat, a Brooklyn-born graffiti artist with a rising career in the 1980s fine arts world; coverage ceases before his untimely drug-related death at age 27. … Stellar bookmaking—a riveting portrait of a young artist.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Tate, Don. Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton “Tate paints a portrait of a North Carolina man who pursued his passion for language through long years of enslavement.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Taylor, G. Todd; ed. by Jorge Hernandez; Dad, Who Will I Be? illus. by Delayna Robbins. “This book inspires, encourages and educates young readers to be great by introducing to them heroes of color from a number of different professions on an elementary level. Some real-life heroes in the book include Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammed Ali, Mansa Musa, Guion Bluford and Garrett Morgan, W.E.B. Duboise, Tiger Woods and many more.” (Publisher)

Taylor, Sean. Goal! "A solid introduction to soccer, carrying with it the sport's openness to any and all.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Tonatiuh, Duncan. Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras “Tonatiuh's Mixtec-influenced illustrations make an apt complement to this picture-book biography of one of Mexico's most beloved artists, José Guadalupe Posada.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Tonatiuh, Duncan. Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation A decade before the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling, the family of an eight-year-old girl – an American citizen -- of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage who was not allowed to attend a “Whites only” school filed a lawsuit and helped to end segregated education in California.

Valério, Geraldo. My Book of Birds "Geraldo Valério is an artist who loves birds, from majestic golden eagles and snowy owls to brilliant cardinals and jays to the tiniest of hummingbirds. Here he presents his favorites, with collage illustrations and brief descriptions that highlight facts about each one." (Publisher)

Wallace, Sandra Neil; illus. by Bryan Collier. Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery "A biography with appeal for sports fans and budding artists alike, it will also beckon to any reader who appreciates a well-told, artfully illustrated story.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Wallmark, Laurie. Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine “Two hundred years after her birth in 1815, the world is finally beginning to pay attention to Ada Byron Lovelace, considered by many to be the inventor of computer programming.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)

Weatherford, Carole. Sugar Hill: Harlem’s Historic Neighborhood “Rhyming text celebrates the Harlem neighborhood that successful African Americans first called home during the 1920s. Includes brief biographies of jazz greats Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Sonny Rollins, and Miles Davis; artists Aaron Douglas and Faith Ringgold; entertainers Lena Horne and the Nicholas Brothers; writer Zora Neale Hurston; civil rights leader W. E. B. DuBois; and lawyer Thurgood Marshall.” (Publisher)

Wechsler, Doug. The Hidden Life of a Toad "A book that encourages observation and conservation and may start some young biologists off on their own lifelong quests to understand animals.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Winter, Jonah; illus. by Stacy Innerst. Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Case of R.B.G. vs. Inequality "How did a book-loving girl grow up to be a Supreme Court justice? … A beautiful example of what a picture book can be.” Biography. (Kirkus Reviews)